Cape Elizabeth’s Inn by the Sea recently received the Green Lodgings Certification from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The Inn by the Sea is the sixth hotel in the state to receive this certification.

The certification is geared towards pairing business practices with eco-friendly practices. “The challenge to the hospitality industry is to balance an enjoyable guest experience with minimizing our footprint on the earth,” said Inn Manager Tom Petot.

The Inn received the certification because of its educational classes, children’s events and garden tours focused on promoting sustainable practices. The innkeepers have also have reduced the use of chemicals by replacing exotic plants with local plants that better support the local wildlife by providing food and shelter.

The Inn has also reduced its volume of electricity use by replacing higher energy bulbs with long life fluorescent lighting, and by installing timers in its lighting system. These changes have saved over $8,000 a year in electrical usage and reduced the number of bulbs to landfills.

In each guestroom, recycling bins are provided as well as water-saving devices.

The Inn by the Sea is an AAA Four Diamond hotel located ten minutes outside of Portland above Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth.

The Inn by the Sea, in Cape Elizabeth, received the Green Lodgings Certification from the Maine Department of Environment Protection.